Basuki Rejects Raising UMP to 30 Percent

The demand from labors who want 30 percent raise in the upcoming 2015 Jakarta Province Minimum Wage (UMP) is rejected by Acting Jakarta Governor Basuki T Purnama.

They (labors) asked to raise the 2015 UMP to 30 percent. I say it can’t

“We were just discussing. They (labors) asked to raise the 2015 UMP to 30 percent. I say it can’t. What is their base (asking for raise)? We previously raised the UMP up to 43 percent because it had not changed for five years,” uttered Basuki after meeting with representatives from Jakarta Labors Forum, at City Hall, Tuesday (10/21).

Basuki also explained that Jakarta Provincial Government also cannot instantly raise the UMP because it must be adjusted with the level of the basic cost of living (KHL). Moreover, KHL cannot be the same every year due to inflation. And based on the survey done by city government, the result of inflation rate this year is low. So, the amount of KHL and UMP next year will not increase significantly.

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“We must be fair. KHL survey this year cannot be equated for UMP next year. The raise (in the 2015 UMP) must be small because the KHL is low. Later, we should continuously press inflation rate in Jakarta,” he stated.

According to Basuki, he does not matter if he was accused not pro-people because of refusing raising the UMP to 30 percent. This is because the government’s role is to administrate social justice, not fulfilling the will of some parties. For that, he is willing not defending the interests of labors just because afraid of being judged not good.

“I’ve told you, I have always been judged not good by them. Yes, UMP raise later is definitely small because the KHL is low,” he said.